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28 June 2013

Not needed anymore... now you can download APK directly to your BlackBerry 10 devices instead.BlackBerry Community has been exploring ways to maximize their experience for their BlackBerry 10 devices and recently, a more advanced method has been discovered to convert any Android 2.3.3 App (APK) for BlackBerry 10. Having said that, not all converted BAR are able to run well in BB10. One of the obvious reason why people will use this method of conversion is saving the trouble of loading different version of Instagram into their BlackBerry.
Need to give credit to xsacha for showing us all how to get it done!
So let's just get started!

First thing first, you need to download these 2 (JRE and Android Pack)
1. Java SE Runtime Environment
- Accept License Agreement and select the right JRE based on your existing OS.

2. You need to submit request at BlackBerry Site for Debug token which is a prerequisite to convert.
- Make sure you select "For BlackBerry PlayBook OS and BlackBerry 10 and Higher"
- Fill up your Personal Information and REMEMBER the PIN aka PASSPIN you set, for eg. 0123456
- It may take a few hours for BlackBerry to reply you with the files (.CSJ File) required to create a Debug token.

5. At this point, you wait for BlackBerry to email you those 2 CSJ files and once you received them, extract it to the same location where you extract your Android Pack folder.

6. Select these 2 CSJ files, drag and drop these 2 files to "RegisterToken". Everything else are pretty automated. You should receive confirmation email about your registration. Bear in mind your BlackBerry 10 device must be connected to your laptop if you are using USB cable to transfer token and "Development Mode" is activated.

Press any key to continue twice to exit.

7. At the end of this process, you should see DebugToken.BAR in the same folder.

8. From here you can drag and drop any APK you wish to convert to ConvertAndroidApp and it will start converting and you will see BAR file created in the same folder your APK exist.

9. You may drag and drop the BAR file to Install to install it to your BlackBerry 10 device. You may also use either DDPB software or Playbook App Manager if you are using Chrome.

What if you have 2 or more BB 10 devices?
What I did is to change the BlackBerry Pin of another BB10 device I want to sideload, in the CONFIG.TXT, DEVICEPIN.

Click Renewtoken and install Debugtoken.bar file into the BB10 device. It will work for the rest of the Bars you want to sideload.

Do the same when you want to switch to another BB10 device to sideload.

What to do when near expiring or expired?
Simple, just click Renewtoken and it will automatically install Debugtoken.bar to your BB10 device. Ensure it is connected to your PC.

As a precaution, you may have to remove debug token from your device first. Just to be safe. But so far I don't need to do that.

18 June 2013

One feature not very much talk about for BlackBerry 10 is the ability to view write-up on a webpage which is filled with Ads, special effects and pictures not related to the subject you are reading. Without the need to zoom in to your content, you can activate this feature "Reader" under your Browser Settings in your BlackBerry 10 devices (such as Z10, Q10 and Q5)

Say above is the webpage you want to read which is word intensive, to utilize the Reader function, tap on the bottom right corner.

Tap "Reader" as shown above.

You can also adjust your content to your desired Font size for comfortable reading mode.

It will show pictures which the writer intended for the article written.

The above feature sure make your browsing on BlackBerry 10 devices more enjoyable and bearable as compared to reading it on your tablet or PC.

If you think this post had helped you, please share this to help others else well. Thanks!

1. Sideload the previous working version It will prompt you to sign in but that is the old version. Don't sign in but close it.

2. Sideload Instagram v4.1.2 and open it, it will prompt you to sign in and voila, it works! Note it will only allow you to view the video post but not able to post video Instagram. Do not delete any icon but rather put one of it at another folder.

Alternate Method for Advanced User:

There is another tedious way without having to load 2 different version of Instagram App in your BlackBerry and that is to go through a process of converting Android Native App 2.3.3 APK to BlackBerry BAR.

It seems to be little more responsive than 4.0.2 although still the problem exist, cannot comment properly unless you use Apex Launcher and use Google Keyboard. Inability to upload video still an issue.

If you notice, there is one additional back button bar at the bottom of Instagram. Not good for Q10 and Q5 users.